*
Botanical Garden - Runway
"Oh, WOW!" Kalim looked around in awe at the scenery. "The botanical garden's got decorative flowers everywhere. And they're all so SHINY," he observed.
"Ugh. It's enough to give a guy a headache," Leona grumbled.
"You'll get used to it. Especially when you officially become part of the Frostinelle Family," Isfrid informed.
"Now THIS is what I call a fancy shindig," Ruggie grinned. "All the plants and flowers in the botanical garden are sprinkled with sparkly gold dust...And the tables are piled high with food, food, FOOD!" he exclaimed while looking around before having starry eyes upon seeing delicious food.
"There's such a huge variety of fae here," Kalim noticed. "I see ones bigger than Leona, and ones smaller than my pinky,"
"Hey. If you're all done gawking, check out the spot farthest in the back," Jamil stated.
"Lemme see..." Grim turned toward that direction along with everyone else. "Looks like a runway and an extra-fancy chair. A throne, almost. Oh! And the one next to it is completely frozen!" he realized.
"Both are reserved seats for the fashion show," Leona replied. "It's probably where the queen's gonna be sitting, since she's the one in charge here. And the frozen one must be for the kitten,"
Jamil nodded in agreement. "Agreed - which means it's where Ruggie's group will be swapping the tiara,"
"Gah! It's a smack-dab in front of the runway!" Grim yelped as he and Ruggie widen their eyes in surprise after they flinched. "There's gonna be more fairies on both sides of the seats, too. The only place we can hide is behind it,"
"If I grabbed the tiara there, we'd be caught by the fairies in no time!" Ruggie stated, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, come on. The subtropical zone is right nearby. Once you've got the goods, you can just hightail it over there," Leona pointed out, ignoring Ruggie's pouts. "That'll take you straight to the back door,"
"Easy for you to say," Ruggie grumbled. "You're not the one doing the swiping! If anything goes wrong, it'll be me, Grim, and Isfrid that get caught and bound hand and foot!"
"Quit yappin' about what-ifs already," Leona groaned in annoyance. "I'm there to keep that from happening, remember?"
"Bah. Fine. But you'd better not forget it!" Ruggie sternly says.
"You can count of us for sure," Kalim assured with a bright smile.
"It's time we split up, then," Jamil states.
"Let's move," Isfrid says.
*
Botanical Garden - Subtropical Zone
The group split into two as Leona, Kalim, and Jamil made their way to get for the show while Ruggie, Grim, and Isfrid went over to the subtropical zone. "Okay, Isfrid, Grim - here's the deal," Ruggie begun, quietly talking to the two in a quite tone. "Since I've got the most manual dexterity outta the three of us, I'll be the one to swap out the queen's tiara for a fake while she's wearing it," he informed, turning his head to Grim. "Grim, you're on lookout duty. Your job is to make sure no guards are coming," he instructed before turning to Isfrid. "Isfrid, your job is to keep an eye on the show and signal me when it's time to make the swap. Give my phone a one-second call. Here's my number. And don't worry, it's on silent mode," he assured. Isfrid nodded as he took out his phone and put in the hyena's number. "We won't be able to see the show from our spot behind the queen. So it's on you to identify the moment when the queen is the most distracted - when the whole place is swept in the moment. Remember, Isfrid, everything hinges on that single moment. Stay sharp,"
"Will do," Isfrid nodded with a dumbfounded expression. "No pressure or anything..." he sarcastically says.
*
Botanical Garden - Runway
"Next up is Entry 14. This is a group of first-time participants!" The Fairy Emcee announced. "They call themselves...'My Retinue and Me'? What manner of fashion will they wow us with? Let's give them a big hand as they COME ON DOWN!"
'What's with that name?' Y/n asked from her seat as the fairies took their places to watch the fashion show.
"Really? That's the best group name you could come up with?" Jamil asked with a deadpanned expression.
"Look, whaddaya want from me?" Leona asked. "I had to put something down in a hurry,"
"Whatever," Jamil sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The name's immaterial, in the end. All that matters is that we put on out best possible performance,"
"We'll give this everything we have so it won't matter if Leona messes up!" Kalim innocently assures.
"Me? Mess up? Who do you think you're talkin' to?" Leona says before smirking. "You're both nothing but the proverbial wagon hitched to the star. The star is me, to be clear. Let's go," he says.
Everyone begun clapping when the music begun as the three boys walked on the runway, impressing many with ease. "I've never seen those fae before. Where do you think they're from?" a craft fairy wondered.
"I've never seen makeup like that, either. But is IS a good fit for the windswept theme!" The fire fairy states.
"Wow, big crowd out there! Taking it in from the stage, it's kind of imposing," Kalim says, having a nervous smile.
"Just stay calm and walk down the runway like we practiced as Y/n is watching," Jamil said.
"What pretty outfits. Ooh, and look at the detail in the embroidery! It's like they've sewn the light of dawn into their clothing!" A water fairy looked in awe.
"Now I'm curious what kind of show they'll put on," The craft fairy says, excited for the show.
"The outfits seem well-received" Jamil smiled.
"Guess Crewel acts like a know-it-all for a reason. His fashion sense even goes over well with the fae," Leona smirked.
"Okay, not to pump up the hype!" Kalim grinned as he and Jamil moved into the front with Leona in the back middle. "It's time to show what Instructor Vil's been training us for. Let's do it, Jamil!"
"Hmph. Don't get too carried away, Kalim," Jamil warned.
"Wow, it's like that one's dancing on air! Is he a wind fairy!" A craft fairy asked, looking quite amazed.
"So far, so good!" Kalim smiled, having on eye closed to peek.
"Now for something bold - going from a windmill to a ninety!" Jamil says.
"He's spinning while barely touching the ground...I've never seen such tempestuous choreography before!" The fire fairy says, their jaw dropping.
"This is intense! Let's go get a closer look!" The water fairy suggested.
"Ah, that's Kalim's group!" Fairy Macy noticed.
"You're acquainted?" The Queen asked the leader of the craftfairies.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Macy nodded. "They're lovely people. Isn't their performance magnificent!"
"Oh, yes. It certainly is a spectacle. Their aura almost resembled you, Y/n dear," The Queen noticed, her attention fully on the show.
"Hm," Y/n nodded in approval as she crossed one leg over the other.
"The queen's turned her attention our way!" Jamil noticed.
"Okay, one more push!" Kalim eagerly says.
"Step aside, boys," Leona suddenly says, stepping forward.
"!" Kalim widen his eyes in surprise.
"Let me show you how it's done," Leona smirked proudly at Y/n, giving her a wink which cause her to tilt her head curiously. "All right, fairies - feast your eyes on THIS,"
"My word..." The craft fairy gasped. "That fairy in the middle has a downright overwhelming presence!"
"What a bold stride. So refined and self-possessed!" The fire fairy commented.
"Nobody would guess you just barely learned how to walk properly on two legs," Jamil stated, having a teasing smirk.
"Ah, shaddup," Leona glared at Jamil. "I'm standing out. That's what matters,"
"Goodness, what land is that fae from?" The queen wondered. "Even his couture has such a lovely design,"
"The queen's watching us!" Kalim informed.
"We just need one more push to get her undivided attention," Jamil stated.
"You want a pièce de résistance?" Leona asked. "As galling at this is, I'll show 'em the dramatic pose that Vil told me to keep in my pocket," he says before smirking. "This should ensure success for the Operation Steal the Show!"
"Let's throw in our best moves, too. Come on, everybody! Dance with us!" Kalim brightly exclaimed.
"Come, come! Get out of your seat. Let's all sing, clap our hands, and celebrate the spring!" Jamil cheers.
"I can feel my body moving already!" The craft fairy says.
"Let's all celebrate the spring together!" The fire fairy cheered.
"WOOOOO!"
"To see such unfettered jubilance coursing through my people...It does my heart good," The queen smiled. "Don't you agree, dear?" she asked Y/n.
"It really does," Y/n nodded meekly.
"It's smiles and flowers, everywhere I look," The queen says. "What a marvelous show this is! Would that I could enjoy this spectacle forever..."
'Forever huh...?' Y/n thought, a shadow looming over her face. "Yes...if only there was a way." she says, agreeing with the Queen.
'Now!' Isfrid thought as he wiped out his phone and called Ruggie.
*brrt!* *brrt!*
Ruggie's phone buzzed, which gave him the signal. "That's the signal!" the hyena grinned as he quickly made the switch before getting a safe distance away, back to Grim. "Phew...The swap's been made,"
"Wh...What in the world?!" Grim gasped in shock. "I barely had time to look, and you're done already! That was so quick, I didn't see a thing!"
"Removing and replacing the pins holding the tiara in place takes about six seconds. Who needs ten seconds? You insult me, Leona. Shyeheehee," Ruggie snickered as Isfrid came back to them. "Hey, Isfrid. Welcome back! That was some perfect timing,"
"The Queen nor the fairies noticed a thing," Isfrid says.
"Sha ha ha!" Ruggie laughed, smirking mischievously. "Did you think I'd get attention? Please. I'm not an amateur. Okay, let's get outta here,"
*
Botanical Garden - Subtropical Zone
"C'mon, get a move on!" Ruggie demands, turning toward Grim who could barely catch up as Isfrid stood next to Ruggie.
"*pant* *pant* Could you slow down for five seconds, Ruggie? You're goin' too fast for me to keep up!" Grim whined before it suddenly rained. "*sputter* Gah, COLD! Why's it rainin' all of a sudden?!"
"That's not rain. It's the botanical garden sprinkler system," Isfrid informed before he and Ruggie widen their eyes in realization.
"Crud. I forgot that the subtropical zone has simulated squalls! If we don't act fast - the water will wash off our fairy dust!" Ruggie sweat dropped. Then, they group felt a presence getting closer. "Uh-oh, someone's coming! Quick, let's hide for now," he says as they immediately went to hide.
"What's this? There's an awful human stench around here!" the group heard a fairy guard says. "Did a human infiltrate our event? The audacity!" the group saw it was was a water fairy.
"The smell's close by," The fire fairy says. "Hey, where are you hiding?! Come out this instant!" they ordered.
"Wuh-oh. I think we're about to be busted," Ruggie winced.
"Over here!"
Just before the two fairy guards caught the three, a voice intervened. "Hey. You,"
"Hm?" The water fairy guard turned to the culprit of the voice.
"Huh?!" Grim and Ruggie flinched in surprise.
"That voice..." Isfrid mumbled.
"You. Yes, you," It was Leona, who stood a few feet away from the two fairy guards.
"Wait, it's you!" The water fairy guard widen their eyes in realization. "The one whose show enveloped the whole venue in a swirl of incredible emotion...The noble fae of...wherever you're from!"
"Look at me when I'm talking to you," Leona ordered as the two guards got closer.
"Heeeeeyy, Leona! Nice save!" Ruggie whispered, smiling in relief.
"Did he come to bail us out?" Grim whispered asked.
"Safe bet," Ruggie nodded.
"The water in my dressing room is lukewarm. I only drink cold water. Change it out. Now," Leona ordered, harshly glaring at the water fairy guard.
"Wow, Leona can sell the fame monster act like nobody's business," Grim sweat dropped.
"Oh, that's not an act. That's just Leona in his natural element," Isfrid informed Grim as Ruggie nodded in agreement.
"B-but, sir, I'm a guard-" The water fairy stuttered.
"What's that? Are you telling me no?" Leona asked with a dark smirk.
"N-NO! I mean, not no to that..." The water fairy shivered slightly from fear. "Wh-what's happening? I feel that strangest...compulsion similar to the crown princess of Permafrostine," they realized.
"The fairy's shrinkin' in Leona's presence," Grim noticed.
"Their attention totally fixated on Leona. I guess now it's Operation Steal the Guard's Focus!" Ruggie whispered shouted.
"...." Leona looked over to the group, moving his mouth.
"Hm? Hey, Leona's mouthing something," Grim says.
"Letters?" Ruggie questioned. "S...C...R..."
"(S-C-R-A-M.)" Leona mouthed.
"Okay, that's our cue to slip out," Ruggie says.
"Time to make a break for it!" Grim whispered shouted as they run out of the botanical gardens with the help of Isfrid using spirit magic to conceal their presence and smell. Spirit magic cannot be sensed by fairies.
*
Botanical Garden
They finally made it out of the botanical garden as Grim heavily panted from all the running. "*pant* *pant* We made it...outta the Fairy Gala," Grim huffed.
"We should be in the clear," Ruggie says, slightly tired as well while Isfrid looked fine. "Anyone behind us? ...Nope, we're good,"
"Operation successful...*sigh* finally..." Isfrid sighed in relief.
"Now we can get back to good ol'school life!" Grim beamed happily.
"YEAH!" Grim and Ruggie cheered as they clapped their hands together.
"The show team should be leaving through the front. Let's meet up," Ruggie states.
**
Main Street
The sun was starting to set as the group reunited at Main Street. "You nearly botched the whole thing, Ruggie!" Leona smirked darkly.
"Hey, don't blame me," Ruggie pouted. "If you wanna blame someone, submit a complaint to whoever's bright idea it was to be all 'authentic' with botanical garden squalls on a timer!"
"That was a fabulous show," Y/n praised in a monotone.
"I'll admit that it was good," Isfrid sighed.
"Of course it was. It had me headlining," Leona smirked, wrapping a hand around Y/n's waist a brought her closer.
"Ruggie and I didn't get to see your act, but...I'd bet thaumarks to tuna cans that Kalim and Jamil carried the whole thing," Grim stated.
"That's not true at all. Leona was so dazzling back there, he outshone the whole rest of the gala! I was floored," Kalim said in pure admiration.
"It's okay, Kalim. You don't have to sugarcoat it for us. You're a real kind soul, though," Ruggie says, smirking as he didn't believe a word that Leona actually did a great job.
"I don't much appreciate your attitude," Leona glared. "Is that how you talk about someone who saved your tails?"
"Are you sure that wasn't just you doing your normal thing?" Jamil asked.
"Either way, we got the magestone back, and the school's back to normal. The day is saved," Kalim smiled brightly.
Footsteps where heard as it headed their way. "Hello there,"
"Ugh. Cue buzzkills," Leona groaned in annoyance.
"I see it's over," Vil says.
"Professor Crewel. Vil. You certainly have good timing," Jamil says.
"We were watching the whole affair via a drone feed that Shroud set up," Crewel informed.
"And? What'd you think of our show?" Leona asked with a teasing smirk.
"....Heh. You pass," Vil smiled in satisfaction. "You see how you managed to bring out your best and then some? Be grateful you had me or a coach,"
"Instructor Viiiil!" Kalim had tears in his eyes again as he hugged Vil again.
"Do you really have to make a whole production out of it?" Ruggie asked with a nervous sweat drop.
"I kind of get it. Those were some really demanding lessons," Jamil says, crossing his arms.
"Since you've all been such good boys, I have a treat for you," Crewel announced.
"You do?! Gimme, gimme!" Ruggie says, his tail wagging like a dog.
"I present to you...your next ensembles!" Crewel revealed. "Custom-made by yours truly, of course,"
"Wait. What do you mean, 'next'?" Jamil asked with a confused expression.
"Are watching the stream, I'm convinced," Vil says, crossing his arms. "With my coaching, your team can reach greater heights than ever. We'll throw in Ruggie, Grim, and Isfrid to give the team a boost...and next time, you'll be walking down the runway of the biggest fashion show in all of Twisted Wonderland!"
"WE'D RATHER SASHAY AWAY, THANKS!"
*
~The End of Fairy Gala: Operation Steal the Show!~
~Interlude 2: Glorious Masquerade coming soon~